Motor-driven cultivator.



E. IMPBRIALE. MOTOR DRIVEN GULTIVATUR. APPLICATION FILED .TUNEJ'I, 1903-N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1' WITNESSES: INVENTOI? [I'zlaardafirwerzkzkATTOR EY PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904.

PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904.

E. IMPERIALE. MOTOR DRIVEN GULTIVATOR APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 27, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 N0 MODEL.

INVENTOI? l .Ll.

WITNESSES:

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No. 763,760. PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904.

E. IMPERIALE.

MOTOR DRIVEN OULTIVATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 27, 1003.

no MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR W6 1%7?% Eduarda fin vel'z'ale A TTOHNE YS.

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No. 763,760. PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904.

E. IMPBRIALE.

MOTOR DRIVEN CULTIVATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 27, 1003.

N0 MODEL. 7 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' Y BY) V ATTOR THE uonms mans o0. wowouma, wnsnmrrmu, u. c.

UNITED STATES Patented June 28, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDUARDO IMPERIALE, OF NAPLES, ITALY.

MOTOR -DRIVEN CULTIVATOR- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 763,760, dated June 28, 1904.

i Application filed'J'une 2'7, 1903. Serial No. 163,337. (No model.)

To all Ll/17107771 it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDUARDO IMPERIALE, a subject of the King of Italy,and aresident of Naples, Italy, have invented a new and ImprovedMotor-Driven Cultivator, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

This invention relates to an apparatus for cultivating land, saidapparatus comprising a cultivating tool or tools mounted on a wheeledframe and a motor connected by suitable gearing with the tool or toolsand with the traction-wheels, so that the tools may be operated and thevehicle propelled over the ground to follow-the operation of the tools.

Thisspeciiication isan exact description of one example of my invention,while the claims define the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a partofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is'a sectional side elevation of the apparatus on the line 1 1'in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is afragmentary rearelevation showing the manner of mounting and driving the cultivatingdevice. Fig. 4 is adetail view of the means for adjusting said device. YFig. 5 is a detail view of the device for periodically arresting theforward movement of the apparatus while the cultivating device isoccupied with the soil, and Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary elevations ofthe front end of the machine and illustrating particularly the variouspositions of the digging-tool beam and. the devices for operating andcontrolling the same.

10 indicates the main framing of the apparatus, which is provided with afront axle 11, having traction-wheels 12 thereon, and a rear axle 14,having steering-wheels 15 thereon. On top of the main frame 10 asupplemental frame 16 is mounted, this frame carrying at its rearportion a case 17, containing a motor, which may be of any desired form.18 indicates the shaft of the motor, which extends forwardly to thefront end of the vehicle, and 19 indicates a balance-wheel on the shaft18.

Mounted in suitable supports 20, rising from the supplemental frame 16,is a short horizontal shaft 21, on which is fastened a worm-wheel 22 inmesh with a worm 23, fastened to the shaft 18, this worm imparting acontinuous motion to the shaft 21 in the direction of the arrow in Fig.1.

At each end of the shaft 21 are arranged two loose arms 24, which carryspring-pawls 24, arranged to engage ratchets 21, fastened to the shaft21. The arms 24 are pivotallyconnected, respectively, to horizontalshafts 25, (see Figs. 1 and 3,) each carrying two beams 26, which arepivoted on the shafts 25 at points intermediate the ends of the beams.

The beams 26 are connected at their upper and rear ends by means of ahorizontal shaft 27 which extends across the machine and has two links28 pivotally connected thereto. The links 28 extend downward and arepivotally connected, respectively, with arms 29, fastened to arock-shaft 30, suitably mounted at approximately the middle of theapparatus and extending transversely, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. An arm31 projects from the shaft 30 oppositely with respect to the arms 29,and said arm 31 is located at one end of the shaft 30, being preferablyformed integral with the adjacent arm 29. On this arm 31 is adjustablyplaced a counterweight 32, this weight tending to throw upward the frontends of the arms 29 and rendering elastic the action of the twocultivating devices, as will be fully described hereinafter. As bestshown in Fig. 4, the hub 33 of the arm 31 and the adjacent arm 29 isformed with an arc-shaped slot 34 therein, and in this slot playsloosely a stud 35, fastened to a handlever 36, which is loosely mountedon the shaft 30 and carriesa hand-pawl 37, eoacting with a toothedquadrant 38, the latter being suitably fastened to the framing of theapparatus. By adjusting the arm 36 the inclination of the arms 29 may beregulated at will, this being eflected through the action of the studagainst the walls of the slot 34, and it will be observed that after thedesired adjustment is secured the said slot will allow'the arms 29 thatfreedom of movement necessary to the operation of the beams 26. The counterweight 32 tends to throw down the digging-tools, and hence the toolsare kept yieldingly in a downward position, enabling them to give oryield upward as they strike the ground, thus avoiding the jarring orracking of the various parts of the apparatus which would occur were thetools unyieldingly connected with the driving parts.

The cultivating-tools 39 are arranged one at the forward end. of eachbeam 26 and are respectively attached to shanks 40, which extend overthe upper sides of the beams and are pivoted thereto, as indicated at41. 42 indicates springs for yieldingly holding the tools 39 inposition, and 43 indicates colterblades which are fastened to the shanksof the respective tools 39 and act therewith very much the same as thecolters in plows and cultivators of the usual construction. The wheel 22and shaft 21 being revolved by the worm 23 in the direction of the arrowshown in Fig. 1, the ratchets 21 and pawls 24 will lift the arms 24until they stand perpendicular from the shaft 21, whereupon the arms 24will fall by gravity, the pawls 24 running ahead of the ratchets 21until the arms 24 again reach the position shown in Fig. l, whereuponthe above-described action is repeated. The crank-arms 24 in movingrearward and upward draw the tools 39 rearward from the position showninFig. 1 and lift them out of the ground, raising the beams bodily untilthe arms 24 reach a positiondirectly above that shown in Fig. 1, or, inother words, perform a half-revolution. The descent of the beams 26 willbegin with the descent of the arms 24, and the parts will then return tothe position shown in Fig. 1, where a second incision will be made bythe tools and colter.

It is necessary to drive the vehicle to cause it to follow the workingof the cultivatortool; but in this connection it should be rememberedthat during the time that the tool is active@'. 0., actually engaged indigging the vehicle itself must be brought to a standstill. According tomy invention as the tool is raised from the ground the propellingdevices become active, and thus the vehicle is first moved a step. Thenthe digging-tool performs one operation, after which the vehicle isagain moved a step, and so on throughout the operation of the machine.The means for effecting this result will now be described. The drivingor front axle 11 is provided with two ratchet-wheels 44, keyed theretoand coacting with spring-pressed pawls 45, carried on levers 46, whichswing loosely around the axle 11. The frontends of said levers 46 areconnected to the shafts 25 by means of links 47. Therefore as the shafts25 move with the arms 24 the levers 46 are rocked and the pawls 45 aremoved forward, so as to impart a forward movement to the traction-wheelsthrough the medium of the ratchets 44. This driving movement takes placeas the beams 26 and tools 39 are ascending, and thus it will be seenthat the forward steps of the vehicle arranged to move around the axle11 toward and from the pawl, the relative construction of the pawls andhoods being such that as the pawls engage the hoods the former arethrown upward out of engagement with the ratchets.

The hoods 48 may be moved to and held at any desired adjustment by anysuitable means. For example, they may be connected with rods 49,extending rearward and adjustably fastened to the framing through themedium of a hand-lever 50, so that by manipulating this lever thedesired position of the hoods 48 may be secured, and consequently thelength of the steps taken by the apparatus regulated at will.

In order to prevent idle movement of the vehicle during the time thatthe propelling devices are inactive and the cultivating devices active,I provide ratchets 51, which are preferably two in number and fastenedto the axle 11. With these ratchets coact the lower ends of therespective levers 52, which are fulcrumed at 53 on the frame 10 andextend upward to the shaft 21. The upper ends of the levers 52 areprovided with loops 54, pivoted to the levers and sliding transverselyon the shaft 21. Said levers are also provided with antifriction-rollers55, which coact with cams 56, fastened to the shaft 21. These camsworking with springs 57, connected at one end with the frame 10 and atthe other end with the levers 52, (see Fig. 1,) throw the levers 52 backand forth, causing their lower ends to engage and disengage the ratchets51. When the parts 51 and 52 are engaged, the axle 11 is locked againstforward movement, and hence the vehicle cannot be propelled. The cams56, which are the positively-acting elements and move the levers intoposition to lock the driveaxle, are so timed with respect to the otherparts that the levers 52 will be moved to engage the ratchets 51 duringthe period that the pawls 45 are moving to recover and the devices 39are actually engaged with the earth. At the rear of'the vehicle Iprovide a number of raketines 58, which are attached to a transverse bar59, supported horizontally by means of brackets 60, suitably attached tothe vehicle. Reference to the drawings, particularly to Fig. 2, willshow that the action of the digging device is confined to a width equalto that between the wheels of the vehicle. For

operating upon that part of the earth over which the wheels move Iprovide auxiliary cultivator-tools 61, which are held by U- shapedbrackets 62 to the hubs of the rear wheels 15, these auxiliarycultivator-tools projecting into the earth and turning over that. partwhich otherwise would be packed down by the wheels 12 and 15.

The manner of using the invention will be fully understood by personsskilled in the art, and no special description is therefore required.The cultivating-tools work rapidly and effectively at the front of thevehicle, and each time that these tools are moved to regulaterl. 0., toengage a second part of the earth-the vehicle is advanced in order toplace the tools over the new area to be worked thereby, the tools andthe vehicle-driving means acting alternately, as has been explained.This apparatus is controlled by a single man and will perform the workheretofore performed by several men each with a separate team of horses.The tools rapidly and thoroughly cultivate the earth, the cultivationbeing much more regular and thorough than in the ordinary practice.

Various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of myinvention may be resorted to at will without departing from the spiritand scope thereof. Hence I consider myself entitled to all suchvariations as may lie within the intent of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The combination with a wheeled frame, of, amotor-shaft, a worm thereon, a wormwheel with which the worm is meshed,a rotary shaft carrying the worm-wheel, a crank-' arm driven from therotary shaft, a beam pivotally connected to the crank-arm intermediatethe ends of the beam, a tool carried at one end portion of the beam, andmeans in connection with the other end of the beam for restraining thesame within certain limits.

2. The combination with a wheeled frame, of a motor-shaft, a wormthereon, a wormwhcel with which the worm is meshed, a rotary shaftcarrying the worm-wheel, a crankarm driven from the rotary shaft, a beampivotally connected to the crank-arm intermediate the ends of the beam,a tool carried at one end portion of the beam, and means in connectionwith the other end of the beam for restraining the same within certainlimits, said means for restraining the beam being adjustable to vary thethrow thereof.

3. The combination with a wheeled frame, of a motor-shaft, a wormthereon, a wormwheel with which the worm is meshed, a rotary shaftcarrying the worm-wheel, a crank-.

arm driven from the rotary shaft, a beam pivotally connected to thecrank-arm intermediate the ends of the beam, a tool carried at one endportion of the beam, and means in connection with the other end of thebeam for restraining the same within certain limits,

said means comprising a link in connection with the beam, a swinging armconnected to the link, and means for adjusting the arm around its axis.

4. The combination with a wheeled frame, of a motor-shaft, a wormthereon, a wormwheel with which the worm is meshed, a rotary shaftcarrying the worm-wheel, a crankarm driven from the rotary shaft, a beampivotally connected to the crank-arm intermediate the ends of the beam,atool carried at one end portion of the beam, means in connection withthe other end of the beam for restraining the same within certainlimits, said means comprising a link in connection with the beam, aswinging arm connected to the link, means for adjusting the arm aroundits axis, a third arm in connection with the second-named arm, and acounterweight attached to the third arm for the purpose specified.

5. In an agricultural machine, the combination of a tool, means formounting and driving the same to move it vertically toward and from theearth, a counterweight for the pur pose specified, and connectionsbetween the counterweight'and tool.

6. Inan agricultural machine, the combination of a tool, a beam to whichthe sameis fastened, a means for operating the beam and tool, said meansbeing pivotally connected to the beam intermediate its ends, twoconnected arms swinging around a common axis, a weight attached to onearm, and a connection between the other arm and the beam.

7 The combination of a swinging arm, a beam pivotally connected theretointermediate its ends, a tool mounted on one end portion of the beam,two connected arms, a weight attached to one of said arms, and aconnection between the other of said connected arms and the second endof the beam.

. 8. An agricultural machine, comprising a beam, means for mounting thesame to move toward and from the ground, motor-driven means forcontinuously operating the beam, a cultivating-tool carried by the beam,and a colter-blade also carried by the beam ahead of thecultivating-tool.

9. An agricultural implement, comprising a wheeled frame, a shaftmounted thereon, means for driving the shaft, an arm attached to eachend of the shaft and swinging therewith, a beam in pivotal connectionwith each arm, a connection between the beams to cause them to move inunison, a tool mounted on each beam, and means for restraining the beamswithin certain limits.

10. In an agriculturalimplement, the combination with the frame, of arotary shaft mounted thereon, means for driving the shaft, an armattached to the shaft, a beam pivoted to the arm intermediate the endsof the beam, a tool attached to one end of the beam, and a restrainingmeans in connection with the other end of the beam.

11. In an agricultural implement, the combination with the frame, of arotary shaft mounted thereon, means for driving the shaft, an armattached to the shaft, a beam pivoted to the arm intermediate the endsof the beam, a tool attached to one end of the beam, a restraining meansin connection with the other end of the beam, said restraining meanscomprising an arm having connection with the beam, a second arm, meansconnecting the two arms, such means allowing a limited independentmovement thereof, and means for holding the second-named arm adjustablyin place.

12. The combination with a wheeled frame, of a ratchet in connectionwith the drivingaxle thereof, a pawl coacting with the ratchet, aswinging member carrying the pawl, a tool mounted on the frame, andmeans for operating said swinging member and tool.

13. The combination with a wheeled frame, of a ratchet in connectionwith the drivingaxle thereof, a pawl coacting with the ratchet, aswinging member carrying the pawl, a tool mounted on the frame, meansfor operating said swinging member and tool, and a lock device drivenfrom the actuating means and serving to lock the driving-axle when thepawl is moved to recover its engagement with the ratchet.

14C. The combination of a wheeled frame, a ratchet in connection withthe driving-axle thereof, a pawl coacting with the ratchet, a swingingmember carrying the pawl, a revoluble shaft, means for driving. theshaft, an arm having connection with the shaft, a beam pivoted to thearm intermediate the ends of the beam, a link connecting the saidswinging member and the pivot between the arm and beam, a tool carriedby the beam, and means in connection with the beam to limit the swingingmovement thereof.

15. The combination of a wheeled frame, a ratchet in connection with thedriving-axle thereof, a pawl coacting with the ratchet, a swingingmember carrying the pawl, a revoluble shaft, means for driving theshaft, an arm having connection with the shaft, a beam pivoted to thearm intermediate the ends of the beam, a link connecting the saidswinging member and the pivot between the arm and beam, a tool carriedby the beam, means in connection with the beam to limit the swingingmovement thereof, and a lock device operated from the said rotary shaftand adapted to prevent the rotation of the said drivingaxle during theperiod that the pawl is moving to recover its engagement with theratchet.

16. The combination with a frame, of a revoluble shaft, means fordriving the same, an arm loosely mounted on the shaft, means actingbetween the shaft and arm to raise the arm upon the rotation of theshaft, a cultivator-tool, and means mounting said tool on the arm, thearm and tool falling by gravity to act on the ground.

17. A motor-driven agricultural implement, comprising a wheeled vehicle,a mounted tool thereon, a rotating shaft driven from the motor, an armattached to and swinging with said shaft and having connection with thetool to operate it, means for imparting intermittent movement to thedriving-axle of the vehicle, aconnection between said means and theswinging arm, the tool and driving-axle being alternately operated, anda stop automatically actuated from said rotating shaft and serving tolock the driving-axle during the inactive period of the means forimparting driving movement thereto.

18. A motor-driven agricultural implement, comprising a wheeled vehicle,a mounted tool thereon, a rotating shaft driven from the motor, an armattached to and swinging with said shaft and having connection with thetool to operate it, means for imparting intermittent movement to thedriving-axle of the vehicle, a connection between said means and theswinging arm, the tool and driving-axle being alternately operated, astop automatic ally actuated from said rotating shaft and serving tolock the driving-axle during the inactive period of the means forimparting driving movement thereto, the said stop comprising a ratcheton the driving-axle, a member movable toward and from the ratchet, and acam on the rotating shaft, the cam acting on said member to operate it.

19. A motor-driven agricultural implement, comprising a wheeled vehicle,a mounted tool thereon, a rotating shaft driven from the motor, an armattached to and swinging with said shaft and having connection with thetool to operate it, means for imparting intermittent movement to thedriving-axle of the vehicle, a connection between said means and theswinging arm, the tool and driving-axle being alternately operated, astop automatically actuated from said rotating shaft and serving to lockthe driving-axle during the inactive period of the means for impartingdriving movement thereto, the stop comprising a ratchet on thevehicle-axle, an elbow-lever one end of which is movable toward and fromthe ratchet, a loop or slide attached to the other end of thelever, andmounted on the said rotating shaft transversely thereof, and a camattached to the shaft adjacent to the loop or slide and engaging thesecond end of the lever. p

20. In a motor-driven agricultural implement, the combination with awheeled frame, of a motor-shaft, a worm driven therefrom, a worm-wheelmeshed with the worm, a rotary shaft carrying the worm-wheel, acrank-arm driven from the rotary shaft, a beam pivotally connected tothe crank-arm intermediate the ends of the beam, a tool carried at oneend portion of the beam, means in connection with the other end of thebeam for restraining the same Within certain limits, and a yieldingmeans having connection with the beam, for the purpose specified.

21. In an agricultural implement, the combination of a revolubly-drivenshaft, a swinging arm connected therewith, a beam to which the arm ispivoted at a point intermediate the ends of the beam, a tool mounted onone end portion of the beam, and a yielding means in connection with theother end portion of the beam to actuate the same, for the purposespecified.

22. In an agricultural implement, the combination of a revolubly-drivenshaft, a swinging arm connected therewith, a beam to which the arm ispivoted at a point intermediate the ends of the beam, a tool mounted onone end portion of the beam, a yielding means in connection with theother end portion of the beam to actuate the same, for the purposespecified, and means also in connection with the secondnamed end of thebeam to restrain the movement thereof within certain limits.

23. In an agricultural implement, the combination with a support, of abeam, a tool carried at one end thereof, means for driving the beam,said means having connection therewith intermediate its ends, a weightfor the purpose specified, and means for connecting the weight with thebeam.

24. The combination of a wheeled frame, a ratchet connected with thedriving-axle thereof, a pawl coacting with the ratchet, means foroperating the pawl to drive the vehicle, and a hood adjustably mountedadjacent to the ratchet, for the purpose specified.

25. In an agricultural implement, the combination of a beam, means formounting and operating the same, a shank pivotally connected to thebeam, a digging-tool attached to the shank, a colter blade also attachedto the shank, and a spring acting between the shank and beam yieldinglyto hold the tool and colter-blade.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EDUARDO 'IMPERIA E.

Witnesses;

HARRY RICHARD STEVENS, A. G. MASSINNINO.

